Antenna Hungaria has been awarded the digital-terrestrial TV and digital-radio transmission rights for Hungary. Documents were signed Sept 5 with Hungary’s National Communications Authority, although the decision was announced earlier this year. Initial services will start in December.
An initial set of transmissions will start in December to about 60% of
the nation, with most signals being free to air. Antenna Hungária is
licensed to operate five TV multiplexes and one radio multiplex for the
next 12 years.
AH will start digital transmission in later this year on the radio
multiplex, and using MPEG4 on multiplexes A, B (for mobile television
in DVB-H), and C, while broadcasting on multiplex D and E will commence
only after the switch-off of analogue terrestrial services in 2011.
Once the network infrastructure has been set up and completed, DVB-T
television multiplexes and radio multiplexes will reach 96% and 94% of
the population, respectively. AH said it opted for MPEG-4 coding in the
tender, because the invitation to tender clearly favoured this more
modern and efficient technology that allows up to eight or 12 SD
channels (or three HD channels) per multiplex.
The mobile television (DVB-H) service will start later this year in and
around Budapest (16% coverage). The service will also be available in
seven other larger cities and the area around Lake Balaton by the end
of 2009, the coverage will be 30%, which will reach 50% by 2012, said
AH.
“We hope that the start of digital terrestrial broadcasting creates a
more competitive environment in this sector, brings a wider range of
television and radio content, and ensures a better quality and varied
program portfolio to those viewers, representing around 20 to 25% of
all households, who currently use traditional analogue indoor or
rooftop antennas," said Dániel Pataki, chairman of the Communications
Authority.
“AH is well-prepared and ready for the rollout of the digital networks
at a fast pace. Decisive factors in winning the tender were, among
others, our available infrastructure, our expertise, and the several
decades' experience of TDF Group in rollout and operation of analogue
and digital broadcasting networks," said Jean-Francois Fenech, CEO of
Antenna Hungária.
